The Hotline (2026)

The official trailer for The Hotline goes inside Never Use Alone, an overdose prevention helpline. People using opioids call in, and an operator stays on the line with them. If the caller stops answering, help gets sent. It is a fragile link between life and death, and the documentary shows it up close. The film is a portrait of America's opioid crisis, where fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for people ages 18 to 44. Through private conversations and moments of real connection, it shows the remarkable ways people can look out for each other. Ricki Stern and Jesse Sweet wrote and directed this 36-minute HBO documentary short. It debuts Wednesday, November 18, 2026, on HBO and streams on HBO Max.